Today, I decided to do something a bit different. I used my (new to me) cyclocross bike on the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail, and biked all the way to Annapolis, MD. The ride started out slow and boring, but by the end, it became one of my favorites. I will certainly be doing this again, many times.
What made the ride a “repeater” in my book was actually not the trail itself, but the scenic ride to Annapolis that came immediately after. The total ride was 33 miles. Next time, I will be sure to explore Annapolis a bit more before heading back!
Getting There
I parked in the open lot next to the basketball court and baseball field.
Stats
Starting the Ride
From the parking lot, take the John Overstreet Connector Trail until it ends, in about 0.40 miles. Right before the intersection, you will take a right turn onto the B&A trail. From here, it is a straight shot all the way down to Arnold, MD.
Trail Conditions
The trail is well-maintained. The pavement is smooth throughout. There are very frequent but bearable stops along the way. Keep this in mind, if you are averse to stop-and-go movement every mile or so. There are only a couple of traffic-light-crosswalks that require you to wait for the pedestrian crossing sign, but this can add a minute or two to your ride time.
Venturing to Annapolis, MD
At the end of the ride, you can take a left turn onto Boulters Way and use the bike lane to get to Maryland Route 450.
Taking a right turn onto MD-450 will get you to Annapolis. Again, there is a dedicated lane for bikes on MD-450 as well, which is just terrific. Since this was my first time on the B&A trail, I was pleasantly surprised to see signs for the “eco-friendly” bike lanes at the end of the trail, which gave me comfort in my decision to press on.
Before long, you will pass the WWII Memorial on your left. Soon, you will see the sun shimmering on the surface of the water. Then, you will face a short but fun climb on the Naval Academy Bridge, before finally making it into Annapolis. This adds roughly 5 miles, roundtrip, to the ride, but increases the “fun factor” of the ride. There is an excitement with riding in a bike lane alongside cars on a sunny day, and the view of the water is so refreshing and rewarding that it makes you forget about the dull scenery of the previous 13 miles the instant you see it. Riding on the bridge only magnifies this effect.
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